Weekend Update and Ornament Swap

 {Linking up with Leann, Dana, and Sami - I know all of them now!!!!}

This weekend started on Thursday night for me! I had to take the day off on Friday to use up my remaining vacay day. No problem here. 

Thursday night I played volleyball in my friend's league. It was so fun! I haven't played in years so I was rusty, but whatever, I had a blast!

Friday I slept in and caught up on Revolution. Did any of you watch that show? I sort of got into it, but I'm not sure I'll watch the second season.

The rest of the afternoon I had a dentist appointment, a training session at the gym, and a MUCH-NEEDED haircut! I got a Groupon for a cut, full highlights and style for only $60! I had to travel across town for my new 'do, but a girl's gotta do what a girl-with-split-ends-and-root's gotta do!

 

Andrew knows by now that when I get a haircut I need a drink. I always feel like my hair deserves it because it just looks so nice after a fresh cut and color. Sure it's ridiculous, but I'll use any reason to celebrate actually styling my hair! So when I said I had a haircut this was his reaction: "so I'll meet you at the bar when you're finished?" Swoon.

 

Saturday was lazy with spurts of busy. We must have called and/or emailed a dozen potential venues for our wedding reception. Two words for you: sticker shock. Oy.

 

We happily checked our mail on Saturday and the CD of our proposal pictures arrived! Please visit my Facebook page for the whole album, but here are four of my favorites!

 

(PS if you would like to read the proposal story, click here!)

 

 

Needless to say, we were happy to add these to Facebook and relive the exciting evening!

 

Then, I ventured out to dinner...

 

 

...when should my wondering eyes did appear?

The CTA Holiday Train, and some tiny fake reindeer!

I love the holiday train!

Oh, were you wondering where I went to dinner? 

(No? lol)

Well, I happened to meet up with the ladies from this link-up! Yep! I met Leann and Sami! I also got to see Dana and Chris from Chubbette Tales! I haven't seen them since the Blogger Blitz this summer, so it was AMAZING to reconnect, meet the lovely Leann and Sami, and have delicious treats at Mercadito! 

Our little blogger meet-up, or blate, seriously made me love blogging even more: I mean, I would have never met these incredible women without this blog of mine. Yay for new friends!!

Oh and ladies, why didn't we take a picture together?!?! I'm very sad we failed to do this! Reason to hang out again, I guess ;)

Sunday was a nice day recovering from margaritas, going to Mass, watching football, and checking out our first venue! We really liked it and will absolutely keep it on our list! 

But yeah. Sticker shock. Yowsah.

Oh! One more thing I promise!!

I was part of the Living in Yellow and Dreaming of Dimples Ornament Swap this year! 

I sent some goodies to Meagan at Local at Last and Lola at Waiting for Baby sent two gorgeous and adorable ornaments to me! I can't believe she knew that I love sparkles and penguins! Amazing!

How fun to meet two new bloggers!

How were all of your weekends? 

I didn't get to decorating, so that must happen next weekend. 

What did you do?

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Today I have some treats for you.

Really, these treats are more reasons for you to make fun of me so please watch and read on.

I mean, in this post I am featuring pictures from childhood Halloweens. Annnd I made a vlog. I sure hope I'm making my new Followers feel welcome!

First up, let's rip off the band aid and get to the vlog. I'm linking up with Erin and Ashley for their fun theme: 

The Girl Behind The Blog- Show and Tell

Time limit: Vlogs should be 2-3 minutes long

Introduce yourself and your blog

Share with the rest of us: What are 3 items you couldn't get through the day without?

 Not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous to share this with you! It's very short, so please watch...or just keep scrolling on to the pictures!

Second, my parents had fun going through old pictures and sent me some from my earlier years. 

I just had to do a Way Back {When}sday post with Rachel from Can't Google Everything for these memories frozen in time.

First up is my princess costume...or at least I think it's a princess costume judging by the tiara. However, the outfit suggests I'm about to bake a pie with help from my Barbie.

Second, my ballerina costume. I never took a dance lesson but I NEEDED a tutu. 

I guess I also needed to wear it mid-torso.

Next up is one of my favorites, a family picture. Hello, my name is Mary, and I was a little lamb.

I loved my lamb costume (apparently my brother did NOT like his), but I think my favorite has to be this gem:

I couldn't even stop eating candy long enough to take a picture. At least I struck a pose mid-chew.

So there you go, awkwardness through the years.

Speaking of awkward (as if I could avoid it), 6 of my co-workers and I are dressing as an awkward family photo at our work party later this afternoon. I'm pretty pumped!

Well, I hope I didn't turn away too many of you after this post! Please leave a comment and tell me about yourself, especially my new Readers! Do you have three things you can't live without...or can't avoid throughout your day? Any favorite Halloween costumes to share?

Enter the Giveaway!

{via}

Happy Sunday, friends! Go check out the giveaway on Living in Yellow today.  TWENTY-EIGHT prizes for the winner!!!   (I may or may not have contributed, too)   Have fun and Go Steelers! :)